Chapter 122
Collector walked through the destroyed City of Nroc taking notice of old billboards of smiling lizard people with rainbows and sunshine.
"Your dream come true. The City of Nroc is happy you are here!"
"Welcome! To your dream come true. Nroc Welcomes you!"
A couple billboards read.
Collector looked at an abandoned sign and on it was an advertisement with a lizard man in a chef outfit.
"Hungry after all this adventuring? Chef Alexandrs' signature dish "savory scales" is exactly what you need! Head to Main Street in the 12th district and pay him a visit!"
Collector's stomach rumbled.
"That definitely would have come in handy by now.." Collector said as he continued walking through the city.
Nroc was truly massive. Skyscrapers rose high into the sky with several businesses, apartments, and shops connected together. Abandoned cars littered the streets.
"Did we we really travel 900 years back in time or forward?!" Collector said, "This city had to be amazing in its heyday. Unlike anything I would've guessed existed 900 years ago."
Collector heard a noise and quickly reached in his bag for a dagger, but lowered it when he saw a homless lizard man walking towards him.
"Undertaker Yuzk!" The lizard man said with a big smile, running up and hugging Collector.
Collector muffed the lizard man's face.
"Lord Yuzk?!" The lizard man cried, "It's me Qak!"
"Unhand me fool!" Collector hissed, then made an "oops" face as he remembered he was in disguise.
"Oh I mean... sorry Mr...um, Qak... I've uhhh had a rough morning." Collector said.
Qak smiled.
"Such an understatement these days huh? Ha ha ha!" Qak laughed.
The lizard man had ragged clothes on and looked very beaten up and skinny.
"Yeah... I'm sure that's right... some effect life force had on this city am I right?" Collector said, hoping to get the man to talk.
The man shook his head.
"The what sir?" Qak asked.
Collector was surprised.
"You.. haven't heard of life force?" Collector asked.
"I'm sorry Lord Yuzk.. I don't have any idea what you're talking about. What is that?" Qak asked.
Collector thought to himself.
"Interesting. So there are some who have absolutely no clue what's going on here, just collateral of this ongoing conflict. Come to think of it, that Yuzk creature didn't even refer to Altir's abilities as "life force" he said Altir was "blessed" with those powers... So what is the factor that decides who gets life force and who doesn't?"
"L-Lord Yuzk?" Qak asked worriedly.
Collector snapped out of it.
"Oh! I'm sorry again Mr. Qak... i'm just so heavy in my thoughts I need to see Lord Raizin immediately for prayer and I can't even remember where the darn temple is!" Collector said.
Qak blew a sigh of relief.
"I can definitely tell you're busy Lord Yuzk, I'd be happy to point you towards the temple!" Qak said.
Collector looked around for witnesses.
"Go on dear boy. Help me out." Collector smiled.
"It's-"
WOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!!!!!
Qak stood with a terrified face as a burst of wind blew past his face and who he thought was Yuzk was gone. Snatched away faster than the eye could see.
"L-Lord Yuzk?" Qak shakily asked, looking down and becoming incredibly excited.
"It-It can't be!" Qak yelled.
A pile of gold lay right in front of him, dropped of Yuzk's person.
"I-I can't believe this... I-I-All praises to the most high! With this!... I can finally!..." Qak yelled with happy tears.
"Go there!" Qak held up the gold, envisioning Joy Boy's futuristic kingdom.
Qak cried happily as he ran through Nroc.
In the skys, Altir flew threw the air holding, the now normal Collector, in front of his face as Collector repeatedly punched Altir in the face.
"You just don't quit!" Collector laughed, pulling out a dagger and stabbing Altir, a beam then shot out of Altir's side. Altir roared in pain.
"HA HA HAHAHAHA!!" Collector yelled, going for another weapon, but Altir flashed above him and slammed his golden staff into Collector's back, sending him careening towards the ground, but Altir flashed down before Collector and slammed his staff into Collector again, sending Collector crashing into an old office building.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!
Collector lay in a pile of desks as he held his head then a bright light came towards him.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" Collector yelled as Altir used his eye beams to blast through the building and cut it in half, sending the top half crashing on the ground.
Altir flew in place for a moment as a giant claw attached to a chain grabbed him from the top of another building. Altor tried to flash out of the claw but couldn't!
Collector held a fake worried expression to mock Altir.
"You-You cannot escape Mr. Altir... this chain has been enchanted with unholy magic!" Collector hissed, swinging Altir in circles until he slammed into a skyscraper. Collector then channeled energy up the chain into the building.
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!
Collector blew the entire top half of the skyscraper off with this attack, the same one used to escape the monster above the Highland Forest. Collector retracted the chain and put it back in his bag.
"That should buy me some time! Huh?" Collector said.
An alarm sounded all throughout Nroc. Collector looked over a ledge and saw Lizard man soldiers running through the streets.
"Oh great! This is the last thing I needed." Collector said.
DOOM!
Collector froze in place as Altir landed behind him. Altir's side wound bled badly and his body was burned badly. Collector turned around slowly.
"No...THIS was the last thing I needed!" Collector yelled.
Temple of Raizin
A bishop lizard man brought water to an older lizard man on a throne. The lizard man on the throne held up a hand denying the water.
"Not now Bishop Aanthroy.." The lizard man said weakly.
"You must drink up Lord Raizin.. water is most important.. especially in these conditions.." Aanthroy said worried.
DOOOOOM!!!!
Lord Raizin was revealed to be sitting on a throne with a giant vine leading up to his back through a hole in the back of the throne. Raizin rested his head on his hand, he was an older lizard with white skin and a black stripe that ran from his nose down his back into his tail.
Raizin's white hair ran from the top of his head to just above his tail, 3 ponytails tied into it.
"I'll be fine Bishop.. god wouldn't let me die without meeting with our guest first." Raizin said.
The Bishop bowed with his eyes closed and walked backwards away from Raizin.
"First that mysterious boom earlier and now it happens again here? In Nroc? The intruder is here." Raizin thought to himself as he looked up.
"You brought him right to me. Praise god." Raizin said, holding his palms up.
Unwelcoming Desert
Ju Peter groggily walked through the desert. The heat was incredibly intense. Ju Peter didn't even know how long he had been walking when he heard a voice.
"Ju Peter. This is Saturn." St. Saturn said.
Ju Peter breathed heavily as he spoke back.
"I'm here.." Ju Peter said.
"We've been waiting on an update. Have you'll learned anything?" St. Bison asked.
"I learned a lot about the Skinwalker faction... from one of their own." Ju Peter said, "I found the answer you were seeking."
"What? Tell us!" St. Cotter said.
"It is possible... to transform in and out of a skinwalker form." Ju Peter said, "I-I'm on my way to become one right now."
"H-How is it done?!" St. Ethan asked.
"You have to eat the heart of the animal you want to become." Ju Peter informed.
"F-Fascinating!" St. Topman said.
"And you're on your way to become one? Which one?" St. Saturn asked.
Ju Peter was silent for a moment.
"They call them... Lords of the Land. Gigantic, powerful skinwalkers who supposedly can't be beaten one on one, Joy Boy being the only exception. I'm looking for the one they call "Lord Wyrm" right now." Ju Peter said.
Before any elder could speak Ju Peter spoke again.
"There are four others... if this ends up being successful... you know what we need to do right?" Ju Peter said.
In the Room of Authority the elders sat and stood in the room.
"Of course." St. Topman said.
"We'd be foolish to not take advantage of this opportunity..." St. Mars said.
"We wouldn't even need a treaty then." St. Saturn said.
"We can just take Joy Boy's kingdom by force." St. Ethan said.
Back in the desert Ju Peter stared ahead.
"Don't get yourself killed Ju Peter." St. Topman said, "We're sending St. Cotter tomorrow as another elder to speak to Joy Boy, with an even larger military force, with multiple warships.
Ju Peter panicked in his mind.
"No!" Ju Peter yelled.
"What did you just say to me?" St. Topman said angrily.
"I-I mean the skinwalkers will be waiting for you in the woods... they'll jump out on you and begin turning our men into skinwalkers to use for their own army." Ju Peter said.
"Then we will blow away the forest." St. Cotter said.
"Don't contact us again until after you've successfully become a skinwalker." St. Saturn said.
Ju Peter nodded.
"Understood." Ju Peter said as his head snapped to the side and he squinted, seeing three energies miles away from him.
It was Dubois, Bambous, and Wilmot.
"I-I-I found him! And he's got someone on his shoulder... I-I THINK THAT'S!" Ju Peter could see Burusu's body hanging over Dubois's shoulder.
"UBOIS AND THE LECNIAN KING!" Ju Peter yelled.
In the Room of Authority the elders all became shocked.
"YOU REALLY FOUND HIM?" St. Ethan yelled.
"DO NOT JOKE ABOUT THIS!" St. Topman yelled.
"KILL HIM! AND TAKE THE LECNIAN KING'S BODY BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!" St. Mars uncharacteristically yelled.
Ju Peter had already started running for the group, keeping them in his sights.
"This power... life force... not only gave me the ability to harden my limbs or weapons but increased my awareness and ability to detect people and things! I can see them miles away from me! I'm moving in on them now!" Ju Peter said, "I will not fail!"
"You'd better not." St. Topman ended.
Ju Peter continued sprinting towards the group.
Back with Dubois's group. The three friends walked through the desert comfortably thanks to Dubois's chilly aura. Inside Wilmot's head all he could think about was back then.
Flashback (10yrs earlier)
Cannons fired and weapons clashed. Those who had life force made great use of it only intensifying the fight. Ogres were trying to take control of a Barbarios outpost and killed 3 Barbarios in the process, calling for a direct response from Joy Boy's Crimson Order.
"And what are you going to be doing?" Marcus yelled.
"I've got to stay here and report to the king about what's going on here! Just keep fighting we've almost won! Get back out there!" Wilmot yelled.
End of Flashback
Back in the present, Wilmot had a thousand yard stare as he looked around the desert.
Flashback (10yrs earlier)
The ogres had gained an upper hand and began to overwhelm the army.
"They're slaughtering us!!" A knight yelled.
"Where is Sir. Wilmot?!" Another knight yelled.
Marcus and other knights looked back with sadness and fright to see Wilmot's post abandoned.
Tears formed in Marcus's eyes.
"Wilmot..." Marcus said.
"SIR WILMOT HOW COULD YOU?!" Another knight yelled as an ogre smashed his head.
Marcus looked back with rage and he coated his sword in black and stabbed straight through the stone skinned ogre like butter. The kill amped up the remaining knights as the cheered.
Marcus jumped on his horse and pointed his sword towards the ogres coming for them. With angry tears in his eyes Marcus led the knights in battle.
End of Flashback
Dubois and the others kept walking for a moment until Bambous got worried and stopped. Dubois looked back.
"Everything alright Bambous?" Dubois asked.
"Uh, yeah what gives? Let's go!" Wilmot said, shaking his head and nervously laughing.
Bambous gulped.
"You guys what the bad news or the worse news?" Bambous nervously joked.
"You think this is a time for jokes?" Wilmot asked.
"RAHHHHHH!" Ju Peter yelled as he got closer to the group.
"Who the hell is that?!?!" Wilmot yelled.
Dubois stared with confusion as he thought back to a young knight he saw on his inauguration.
"Wh-What is he doing here? What's been going on since I disappeared?" Dubois asked, feeling worried.
To avoid Dubois's curse Ju Peter inteded to attack either Wilmot or Bambous with occasional attacks towards Dubois. Ju Peter jumped in the air and hardened his arms throwing a heavy punch at the group. When the dust cleared Ju Peter was punching Wilmot's shield.
"Hey isn't this life force he's usin'?!" Wilmot stressed.
"Looks like it! This was the bad news!" Bambous said, swinging his staff, forcing a grass fist to emerge from the sand and punch Ju Peter away from them.
Ju Peter looked at Bambous with shock as Bambous slammed his staff on the ground like a hammer sending three giant blades of grass towards Ju Peter, slicing through the sand forming crevasses.
Ju Peter was able to dodge the attack.
"That panda is powerful..." Ju Peter noted, pulling out a pistol.
Bambous became frightened.
"Woah!!" Bambous raised a grass shield to block the bullet.
When Bambous lowered the shield Ju Peter was running towards Wilmot.
"Damn!" Bambous said.
Ju Peter tried to attack Wilmot but a stretched out hand caught him and dragged him down and through the sand and slammed him a great distance away. Wilmot and Bambous looked at Dubois as his arm retracted.
"That was amazing Mr. Ubois!" Bambous cheered.
"Shoulda let him attack me! I woulda finished em'!" Wilmot boasted.
Ju Peter shook his head as he got up.
"Good... I was able to bait an attck.. I also noticed it got chillier the closer I got to his body.." Ju Peter said, standing up, charging them again and shooting at them with two pistols.
Bambous used his grass shield, Wilmot used his giant round shield, and Ubois used his demonic arm's scales.
"This guy is relentless!" Wilmot yelled.
"What does he want?!" Bambous yelled.
Dubois breathed in and out nervously as he looked at Burusu.
"I-I think he's here for Burusu!" Dubois said.
"The king? Because of his power?" Bambous asked.
"Most likely!... We... We can't let him get ahold of this power!" Dubois said, "Please help me stop him!"
Wilmot and Bambous smiled.
"Of course!" Wilmot and Bambous said in unison as Ju Peter stopped firing due to a lack of ammo.
"So you've decided to die for the insect king." Ju Peter said.
"His name's Burusu you flat headed idiot!" Bambous growled.
"You're first." Ju Peter said softly before charging Bambous who got ready to fight.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM
A giant figure emerged from the ground. Its size was truly un comprehensible, something this big shouldn't be even be alive.
"WHAT IN THE HELL IS THAT?!?!" Wilmot yelled.
Dubois couldn't believe what he was seeing and neither could Ju Peter.
"That's the worse news..." Bambous said nervously.
Lord Wyrm opened his massive mouth and let out a loud, distorted roar, echoing through the entire desert. So loud, a particular Barbarios female could hear it all the way across the desert.
"Ughhhhhh people have got to stop coming in this desert until we get this bug problem sorted out." The woman said, putting on her helmet which was a lizard man skull.
A tall, fat blacksmith smiled as he looked at the young lady.
"Yo ho! Will you make it all the way out there in time Lady Cyl? (Sill)" The man asked.
Cyl grabbed her spear, immediately causing the end to become red hot and sparking from the heat.
Cyl smiled.
"You know it." Cyl said, blasting away from the camp with super speed.
Dubois Castle (Present Day)
"The first roar from Lord Wyrm would've probably killed me if I wasn't already immortal." Dubois joked, then becoming serious.
"Ju Peter and the Government wanted Burusu's body.. that was obvious.. and now a lord of the land had shown up.. we had to get away by any means." Dubois said, before chuckling sadly."
"That's just what I've been telling myself these 900 years.. trying to make excuses for my greatest weakness.. Tore's greatest weakness.." Dubois said.
Dubois was silent for a moment, everyone continued listening.
"Kindess.." Dubois said.
Wild Tim's General Store
Robin looked up with shock at Tore as well as other shoppers and Vasco Shot.
"How-How did you know?!" Vasco asked Tore.
Tore smiled big.
"Come on. You don't think I wouldn't recognize my own daughter!" Tore said.
"Daughter?!?!" Vasco yelled.
"Robin" on the ground poofed and was revealed to be none other than Caterina Devon, another former member of the Blackbeard Pirates. The real Robin was tied up in a closet in the store.
Vasco stared at Tore's eyes with pure fear.
Tore stared at Vasco with Minaki's sharingan.
"Where's my daughter." Tore said.